Nothing major (i.e. engine swap, tranny swap, etc.), just something minor and real easy to install (since I'm not good with engine mechanics, and I don't have the tools, time, or skills needed for any major work). I will only have about $200-$300 to work with.

I want the car to be good and balanced in all areas, but if I have to put priority in one area, I would like to have better throttle response.

I don't need it to be a track or street monster right now (since it's my daily driver), I would just like for it to be a little more fun to drive without drastically changing the car.

Am I able to get anything with this in mind, and with whatever money I have, or should I save up some more money for something a little bigger?

Car's in the sig.

 

FWIW, the newest issue of GMHTP did a dyno test of a before and after install of pulleys (alt & amp) and found a gain of
17 rwhp, and 13 lb-ft of torque. I would say go for that and an MSD 6A (if you don't mind not having the rev-limiter). I found that the MSD gave me better throttle response and slightly better gas mileage.

 

I already have the MSD 6A box installed, so that's . Would it be safe to say that a novice could install an aftermarket pulley by himself?

 

if you have an impact gun (you'll definately need it to remove the alt. pulley), I'd say go for it. OTherwise, I wouldn't bother.

 

Darn.

It's a bummer not having the tools or know-how to do stuff like that.

 

If you take your alternator to a shop they can take off the pully for you for next to nothing. Its not what you know, its WHO you know in this hobby.

 

What the F? That much gain with U/D pulleys?! I gotta get some damned U/D pulleys.

Hrmm, I have a Q tho for the post author. Did you notice a gain with the two hi-flow cats?

I also have alternative suggestions:

Headers. If you got headers, you would have full exhaust what with the two cats and catback. The car would sound MEAN! There is also of course some ET to be dropped with headers. Say maybe 2 to 3 tenths.

Then again, you could get a higher stall torque converter... this will make the car feel like a rocket off the line and thats a lot of fun. 3 to 5 tenths depending on what stall speed you get. I wouldnt go higher than 2800.

 

Was this on a TPI car or an LS1 car? Stock? I know the pulleys are pretty popular in the ls1 world, but I have yet to seen any real evidence that they help the TPI cars much. If you do a search you will find many many debates here on underdrive pulleys, personally I would spend my money on something else. Not to mention some people have charging issues after installing pulleys.

 

I read that article, too. That is on a 305 tpi 5 speed. It does seem outrageous (17 rwhp with just pulleys), but then again that 305 is about to outrun my modded 350...oh well. My car is slow.

Dirty Bird:
I would say get headers, but if you can't install pulleys, headers won't be fun. Maybe try to find some used runners in the classifieds on this site and on ebay. Something like Accel. I would rather install runners than headers...

 

Yes underdrive pulleys are well worth it. They go for about $65. Also I would also suggest the exhaust. I put a set of $100 headers from Autozone on my '88. Picked up .4 in the 1/4. Went from 15.00 to 14.6. Just my opinion.

 

BTS: What do you mean by charging issues? Could you clarify?

 

I say go buy yourself a dremel or die grinder and the tools to take off your plenum. There is some throttle response to be gained from porting your plenum and/or matching the ports to the runners and new gaskets. Not to mention - it will get you more comfortable working in and around your car. So next time, installing headers or pulleys won't sound like that big a deal.

 

yea... work on the plenum, pulleys, headers, and if you have $$ left over, get an AFPR and you'll be happy (for now).

 

I just did the plenum mod, AFPR, throttle body colant bypass, and cold air intake on my 87 GTA 305 5spd. all I can say is that it doesen't even fell like the same car any more those mods gave it alot more pull from 4000 to 5000 rpm and not to mention lots more down low torq.

 

Well I've heard with some underdrive pulleys that since the alternator is underdriven it doesn't keep the battery charged well. I've heard the March Power & Amp U/D pulleys don't have this problem though, I think someone else suggested them in this thread.

Edit - The car that they put the underdrive pulleys on is also highly modified I'm assuming from what was said, so on a stock engine I don't think they would help near as much as what was in that article.

 

The older March pulleys were coming apart, I think they were cracking in half. Also, do a search on each one of these parts, and get the positive and negative of each one. I have heard that 80% of the cars with u/d pulleys have problems with overheating, and charging.

I would go for headers, get them out of the way now. Then move to intake and tuning.

 

The tricker box is very cheap and pretty easy.
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...=217306&page=4

Other things that are very cheap & easy are:

removing the air pump

removing the thermostat

removing the throttlebody coolant hoses

removing the AIT sensor from the plenum

bumping the base timing up 4 or 5 degrees

tighten sparkplug gaps down to around .030

grind down the bumpstop on the throttlebody so that it opens up completely at full throttle

 

Hey D Stroy:

When I first purchased the car, the exhaust system as a whole was in such bad shape, I honestly can't make an accurate comparison between stock cats and hi-flow cats...in fact, both my cats looked like they had been through a nutcraker when I got them replaced! If only I had a digital camera at the time, I could have uploaded pics to show you.

When I think about it, it would make sense to finish the custom exhaust by upgrading the headers.

I'll do some more thinking (and more $ saving!) with all your guys' recommendations and opinions before I make my final decision; but now I have a good idea of what options are available to me at this point. Thanks for all your help guys! :hail: